Ong: Tourism as key industry boosts air services

Thursday, 06 May 2010 08:52

KUALA LUMPUR – The step taken by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to make tourism a national key economic activity (NKEA) will indirectly stimulate the air services industry, said Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat. Pursuant to this, he said his ministry was given the mandate by the government to sign the Asean Multilateral Agreement on Full Liberalisation of Passenger Air Services to enable full liberalisation of civil aviation in terms of flights from capital cities of Asean to Malaysia. "The Cabinet at its meeting today to gave the green light to sign the agreement, which does not impose limits on flight frequencies, aircraft type or passenger load, beginning June 30. Expands network "This is to expand our air network besides acting as the main contributor towards the growth of the tourism industry because any tourism promotion will not get anywhere without effective air sevices," he told Bernama before appearing as a guest on Bernama TV's Hello Malaysia programme here tonight. Prior to this development, he said the ministry had liberalised air services between Kuala Lumpur and other key Asean cities. "We have moved forward and at the same time expanded air links whereby 18 airports were linked directly to Singapore, meaning to say KLIA is not the only link to the city-state," he said. Penang draws flak over tourism pamphlet Wednesday, 05 May 2010 12:46 PENANG – Mistakes in the state tourism pamphlet shows up Penang's insensitivity and lack of understanding on the state's culture, says an assemblyman. Muhammad Farid Saad (BN-Pulau Betong) said some icons contained in the pamphlet did not reflect the culture of the Penang people. "The wau bulan (kite) and wayang kulit (shadow play) are not part pf people's culture in Penang. Doesn't the state executive councillor (exco) know that or doesn't he care?" he said when debating the motion of thanks on the Yang Dipertua Negeri Abdul Rahman Abbas's opening speech at the state assembly sitting here today. Muhammad Farid said in a Bernama report that the pamphlet information was also skimpy as it only showed locations on the island. Penang more than the island "It is as if Penang is made up of just the island. This is pathetic." He said he hoped the state would revise the pamphlet and make it more useful. "It is hoped that Deputy Chief Minister 1 Mansor Othman (PKR- Penanti) will assist state tourism exco, Law Heng Kiang (DAP-Batu Lanchang), to look into the matter so that it will not happen again," he added. Muhammad Farid, who is chairman of the homestay programme in Penang, also chided the state for not providing any aid to develop the programme, despite its potential to attract more tourists to the state.